A 22-year-old Blaine man was arrested on July 24 on suspicion of forcibly assaulting a woman known to him last month after she had turned down his advances.
Arjun Singh Sihota was booked into Whatcom County Jail for 2nd degree assault with sexual motivation, 4th degree assault with sexual motivation, and indecent liberties by forcible compulsion, according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents.
In mid-June, a woman reported to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office that Sihota had assaulted her the day before at a party. The woman told deputies that Sihota had previously asked her out on dates, and she had declined, according to the affidavit of probable cause (APC).
Sihota repeatedly asked the woman to use cocaine at the party, to which she said no, according to the APC. Sihota allegedly shoved his fingers halfway down the woman’s throat and slapped her before grabbing onto her throat in a way that restricted her breathing. The APC shows Sihota tried kissing the woman and slapped her when she didn’t return the kiss. He then put cocaine in the woman’s mouth and, as she was trying to wipe it out, forced more cocaine into her mouth, according to the APC.
Sihota allegedly verbally berated the woman and slapped her each time she said she didn’t want to be touched.
The APC shows Sihota again asked the woman on a date and, when she declined, put his hand under her shirt and forced a kiss on her.
A warrant for Sihota’s arrest was issued July 20, and he was booked into jail on July 24. He was later released that day on a $15,000 appearance bond or $1,500 cash.
It was unclear by press time who was serving as Sihota’s defense.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline is available at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.
Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.
Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24-hour helpline at 360/312-2015. The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.
The fourth paragraph of this article was updated on July 28 to clarify the indecent liberties charge.
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